it's possible !!

daphne dee. daughter of the fairy godmother and fairy godmother in training. artist.

[daphne-dee]

meet daphne !!

THE MAJESTIC FAIRY GODMOTHER OF CINDRELLASBURG IS PROUD TO PRESENT THEIR CHILD, THE HONOURABLE DAPHNE DEE, FOR THE UPCOMING SOCIAL SEASON. WE HEAR THEY’RE CREATIVE AND CARING, BUT CAN ALSO BE ANXIOUS AND INSECURE.

name: Daphne Dee

age: 26 years old

parents: Fairy Godmother (adopted)

homeland: Cinderellasburg 

gender: Cis Female, She/Her 

sexuality: Demisexual

HEADCANONS

Daphne’s parents were actually distant relatives of the Fairy Godmother, which was how her adoption came to be. The Fairy Godmother wasn’t exactly looking for a child, but when it was brought to her attention that poor Daphne, at just two years old, had nowhere else to go after a terrible carriage accident, the older woman simply couldn’t say no.

You might think that being adopted meant that Daph inherited no magical abilities, but that would be incorrect. Whatever magical blood that runs through her adoptive mother’s veins runs through hers as well (though simply in a lesser amount). Therefore, with a wave of a wand Daphne has similar abilities. Perhaps not as strong, but ever since the dawn of her thirteenth year she’s been working with her mother to strengthen her abilities. One never knows when someone might need a Fairy Godmother and sadly her mother was already on the older side when she was adopted.

The need to help others was instilled in Daphne at a very young age. She had the perfect example to look up to, with her mother having so selflessly helped Cinderella. The same selflessness was encouraged in her... almost too much. She was taught to care less about her needs than those of others. She has never been good at putting herself first.

While she definitely has an interest in magic, and knows it’s her duty to be the next Fairy Godmother, Daph also has a keen interest in art. She’s travelled across the kingdom and seen some of the best. She’s also taken it up for herself. While most of the time her work is just for her, it’s a not-very-well-kept secret that she’s responsible for the backdrops that rest behind the performers at the Opera - an arrangement made for her by her mother, but one she’s incredibly thankful for.

Daphne has been out in society for years. At this point she is essentially considered to be on the shelf. A spinster. It’s not that no one was ever interested, but nothing ever felt right and she simply couldn’t muster up the right feelings. She’s not necessarily content with being ‘past her prime’ when she is still so young, but there is little to be done about it.

Daphne is nervous about the arrival of those from the Shadow Realm. She believes there is a very good reason why their worlds were separated, and she’s moderately paranoid about what the fallout of such a decision could be.

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Abe Mariner - Good Influence

Finn Charming - Protective Over

Drusilla White-Prince - Childhood Friends

WANTED CONNECTIONS

Those she’s protective over - They could take advantage of the fact that she’s caring or they could not.

Best Friends

Bullies - She’s a spinster. Surely someone has something to say about it.

Shadow Realm Suspicions - Someone(s) she keeps a close eye on, whether it’s deserved or not.

Good influence - Someone who encourages her to put herself first and who looks out for her.

[daphne-dee]

talesnbone​:

when: may 26, first day of coronan lantern festival  who: damien gothel and daphne dee @daphne-dee​

he was a practiced man at deception. Damien had been making sure his attempts and style worked among the people of the Ton for as long as they stepped through the mirror. but, he certainly had to admit that even for him, being in the presence of his most hated, tugged at things in a way that made them wish to boil over. he had to remind himself that he had a plan. a purpose. it could not end in one night of a heated fire. no matter how tempting the idea was. he could already taste the satisfaction. but it would be short lived. no, the suffering needed to be deeper. there were webs to be weaved. moves to be made. 

speaking of moves, he caught sight of one such thing in motion. the sight of one Miss Daphne Dee, made a corner of his mouth move upwards to the sky. she seemed unlike the other fae he had seen so far. something that kept her apart from the others. her shimmer dark locks always styled so well, but never seemed to be enough for people around her. he had heard rumor that she was of an older age. perhaps too old to be a viable candidate for a man to choose to marry. none of that mattered in the end, to him. what did matter was her connection to the fairy godmother. the one that seemed to be in enough stories it almost made him want to gag. 

still, magic was something he didn’t have access to. thus, he was willing to find people that did. he always did need more ‘friends’. smoothly, Damien made his way in front of her, so he could offer a proper greeting. “it’s lovely to see you again, Miss Dee.” he began with a nod of his head. something like a bow. a courtesy he was willing to give her. “i hope you have your eye on something this night to start the festivities off how you wish.” 

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Daphne had been having a pleasant enough time at the Lantern Festival thus far, flitting from spot to spot along the Artist Alley. An artist herself, she’d harbored only a moderate amount of bitterness in her heart as she looked over various stalls, easily able to tamp down the jealousy that she felt after she’d been forbidden to show her own work.

She wasn’t meant to be known as an artist. She was meant to be known as a fairy - specifically, the next Fairy Godmother. Her mother had made that abundantly clear over the years, insisting to all that her artwork was just a passing fancy. That it would be something she’d set aside once she had a husband and fairy duties. That her training came first.

Well, the time for a husband had come and gone. She was now officially on the shelf, her mother had not yet turned over the Fairy Godmother duties, and Daphne was essentially working as a full-time artist, painting the backdrops for various performances. And yet she was still not allowed to declare it or attempt to make much of a profit from it.

She wasn’t even allowed a credit in the programs. It wasn’t proper for someone of her position.

So she’d sulked about a bit, perking up when she stumbled across an image or two that was truly unique or inspiring. By the time the sun began to set in Corona, she’d acquired a small painting of lanterns floating up to the swirling night sky and a few new purples for her to try out.

It had been a day well spent.

She was just doing one last bit of admiring, offering a smile to an elderly man with a keen eye for details, when she noticed a man heading straight in her direction.

Odd.

“Oh,” she breathed out once he’d greeted her, his bow and apparent familiarity with her taking her by surprise. He was... alarmingly pretty.

And all at once Daphne was very aware of the fact that she had never properly spoken to him before.

“It is lovely to see you as well, Mister...” she trailed off, hoping he would supply his own name. “I must admit, I had not considered making plans for the first evening of the festival. However, the day, while long, has been pleasant. And are you enjoying the festivities?”

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

[daphne-dee]

Daphne Dee did not feel confident as she approached the blonde faerie outside of the modiste that afternoon.

She had just met with her mother for tea, and after some harsh words about faerie propriety were reinforced for her, they had parted ways with Daphne being given one specific mission - determine the source of the prior evening’s troubles and pass along their name.

That she had run into a faerie as she was making her way back to her townhome was simply pure luck. However, of the fae in Sevastyan Petit’s court... Daphne would be lying if she didn’t say she would have preferred almost any other to have been the one she stumbled across.

There was just something about the tall blonde one that was off-putting to Daphne and she couldn’t quite put a finger on why.

She didn’t let that thought linger in her mind for too long before she began to speak, however, greeting the girl with a bright smile.

“Silverbell, was it?” she dipped into a quick curtsey of introduction. “Daphne Dee, daughter of the Fairy Godmother. Pleased to make your acquaintance. My mother is distressed to hear the news from Lady Chattermore about last night. I was wondering if I might ask for your assistance on a matter of great importance to her.”

@silverbcll​

[daphne-dee]

abraham-mariner​:

Abe’s exhaustion knew no bounds that evening. Perhaps he had not so willingly taken part in the fairy goods that were spread out amongst the bacchanal. Surely he should have taken his good friend’s advice and just stayed far away from the event, knowing full well Nasir would be there. But had he listened?

Absolutely not. Listening was not in his genes it seemed.

“Do you suppose it would just be easier if we were married?” he lamented, sighing gently as he laid his head on Daphne’s lap. Perhaps it wasn’t the most proper thing in the world to do but he was in need of some comfort more than anything.

“I fail to see how it would be beneficial to continue to ruin my life chasing after a foolish idiot of a man.”

Daphne was always his go to confidante, the woman who understood him most in this world. They were the best of friends, thick as thieves, stuck at the hip one could even say. She always knew how to break him from his depressed stupors.

@daphne-dee​

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

As the seasoned spinster of Auradon’s younger generation, Daphne had taken it upon herself to develop a vested interest in the love lives of others. She was happy enough to play cupid to ensure that no one (that she liked, at least) would end up with the same fate as her, and she wasn’t half bad at providing just the right advice, asking just the right probing question to spur action.

But things were different with Abe.

Quite simply, they mattered most to her. And she did not want to be the reason why the most important person in her life (aside from her mother) was caused any form of misery.

Thus she forced herself to tread lightly with her advice that day, offering a reassuring set of pats to Abe’s clearly stressed shoulders before taking their face between her hands. “Have I heard that one should marry their best friend? Yes. Should one marry their best friend when they are in love with someone else? No.”

It was a simple enough answer, and one she knew they were likely to begrudgingly accept.

“Love is hard. Or at least I assume that to be so. It’s certainly never been easy in any of the operas I create for. But it must also be worth it, yes?”

[daphne-dee]

discnchant​:

✂✂✂✂✂

Santos let out a single breathless laugh at her words. She had been hidden until she’d moved forward, but even with the limited lighting he could tell this was one of the young ladies of Auradon that he was not familiar with. People he had no intentions of becoming familiar with if he were being honest. Averting his gaze back to the book, using that minimal light to try and read it some more, he shrugged a shoulder. “Well I won’t say anything if you won’t. Seem fair to you?” He didn’t care about decorum or anything like that, he’d just expected that his intruder would leave if he brought up curfew. She didn’t, which he had mildly respected but overall found irritating. He just wanted to be alone, after all. 

Her next words intrigued him a little more. If he weren’t an observant man then he may have missed the slight implication of her words. After all, why bring up a lost book if that very thing you were seeking wasn’t in the hands of the person you were addressing. “Is that so?” he responded casually, turning the page and keeping his eyes glued to the pages. He had no idea what was on the paper but he made a point of leaning further back and getting more visibly comfortable, as though he were not intending to move from there nor give up his entertainment for that night. “What a shame,” he added after a moment in a semibored tone. 

Turning another page, his gaze flickered up to the girl. “And what was your book about?” It sounded like he was making casual conversation, and not trying to get her to explain what he was staring at though he figured she was astute enough to figure out that he had no idea what the book contained. He licked his thumb to help him turn the page better, all the while not looking away from her. It was almost like he was taunting her, not giving her the possession she was looking for until she had satiated his curiosity. “Anything interesting? Well worth reading, a strong recommendation, perhaps?”

✂✂✂✂✂

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Daphne did not take kindly to the male’s false ignorance. There was no doubt in her mind that he was from the Shadow Realm, but she was unable to place him from those she’d been introduced to that evening and she doubted that either were about to insist on the introductions that society tended to favor. Instead, it was perhaps best to let each other remain anonymous. Though she wished to direct her frustrations at someone who she could give a name to, at the very least she had absolute certainty of where she could find him moving forward should things not work out the way she desperately needed them to that evening.

Since their arrival in Auradon, Daph had been doing her best to keep an open mind when it came to the shadowborn. She had certainly endeavored to keep an open mind that evening, having had pleasant conversations at dinner, in between songs at the musical performance, and during the ball. She had even shared a few dances with one or two of their newest residents.

However, the longer the spellbook remained in the male’s hands, the more she could feel her suspicions growing. He could not read it, that much she was certain of, but if he managed to sneak it out and to someone who could? It could mean disaster. Of the minor variety, to be sure, but after so many years of stability, and new magical knowledge getting into the hands of those not properly trained to use it for good could be an issue.

“Considering how it is written in an old language that few can read, I don’t find myself able to recommend it or share what it contains,” she answered, moving with purpose closer to where the male had settled in. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get it back, especially given that she’d left her wand in her room in anticipation that she wouldn’t encounter anyone, but it had to be done quickly. What did he need? A distraction? Another book? Some sort of trickery?

“I think we both know that you’re holding the very book I speak of. The sooner it is back in my possession, the sooner I will leave you to snoop about the room. Or the castle, even. I will say nothing of it. Deal?”

[daphne-dee]

abraham-mariner​:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abraham was well aware of the disasters that Daphne had faced during her years in society. It hardly seemed like anyone was good enough for her, at least in his humble opinion, but he wanted nothing more than to see her smiling and happy. It was a predicament that haunted him often.

“Terrible options indeed. Well there are many new faces this year, perhaps we will be lucky and find someone suited for you. Someone worthy of your beauty, loyalty, and kindness,” he reminded her.

The subject of Nasir made him bristle again and Abe sighed before winking her way. “There have been plenty of verbal declarations but they’ve been made in private quarters. Though those are not the ones you are speaking of I am sure. As far as that goes, well, I hardly know what to do. One minute I think he’s the one and the next I’m not so sure.”

He took the sweet gesture and pulled her into a quick embrace that lasted only a moment so people would not stare or whisper for too long. It was frustrating to say the least when their gaze lingered and this was nothing more than the gentle sweetness of a well cultivated friendship.

“Well if that is what the good fairy believes than who am I to deny it?”

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

“Perhaps we will. Or perhaps we won’t. After many years out on the market, it is freeing to be retired. As much as I had wished at one point or another to make a love match, my mother didn’t either and she has lived a perfectly happy life. Perhaps it is simply too much to live one’s live in service of the greater good and also in service of a family of my own,” she let herself pout. “I think I might be content to live the rest of my days in spinsterhood, transitioning from backdrop artist to Fairy Godmother when the time comes.”

On the other hand, Abraham was likewise someone expected to act in service of others. However, she believed with her whole heart that they would settle down with someone they loved. Nasir or not... though secretly she was rooting for the pair.

“What makes you not so sure? Is it something beyond this fear of commitment?”

It was odd timing for such a serious conversation, but nothing about their friendship had ever been particularly conventional. And there were certainly worse moments than traded whispers during a shared ballroom dance.

“I am always right, Abraham Mariner. This is something that we have both grown to know over the years, so I’m sure that my declaration of it now comes as no surprise. This is my premonition for you and I look forward to the day it becomes a reality and I get to say that I told you so.”

[daphne-dee]

discnchant​:

Despite coming from another realm entirely, there were some faeries which preferred to make Auradon their permanent home, a concept that Sevastyan Petit found to be quite weird. Sure, the more time he spent in Auradon, the more he understood its charm and draw, but overall he found it wanting in comparison to the home land of the faeries. He didn’t understand how someone could trade a magical world of such splendor for the far more dull and mundane Auradon, their chocolate confections aside. But no matter what he thought, it was becoming more and more popular for some of his people to build forever homes and form symbiotic relationships with the people of Auradon. One such well known solitary faerie was the Fairy Godmother Ms. Dee, whose magic had helped the meek and timid Cinderella rise above her abusive family to become a royal. Everyone from across the human and faerie realms were familiar with such a story. But it wasn’t the Fairy Godmother which piqued Sevastyan’s interest.

As he stood in the parlor of the Godmother’s home, the faerie prince plucked a book laid out, pulling it up and slowly turning the pages as he leaned back on the couch. Magic spells lined every page, each one more complicated than the previous. He let out a low whistle as he read about the transfigurative charms that he figured Godmother used to change a pumpkin to a carriage for Cinderella’s trip to the ball. Fascinating. He was quite engrossed in the book that he’d almost missed it when the door to the parlor opened and in came the person he had actually called upon. Daphne Dee, a most curious creature. When he’d heard that the Fairy Godmother had had a protege, a relative who was also learning faerie magic, he was shocked to say the least. Not by the notion — it had made sense for one of the most notorious of their kind to have a pupil to follow in their footsteps. It wasn’t that at all.

Rising and bowing in greeting, Sevastyan stood to his full height and observed the part-faerie before him with bemusement. “Miss Dee, am I correct?” He asked with a raised brow. He set aside the book he’d borrowed and crossed to where she stood, half listening if she was greeting him back and walking a slow circle around her. One arm was crossed over his chest, the other hand stroking his pointed chin. “How interesting,” he commented as he walked about her and came to face her front again. “No wings… unless they are quite well bound beneath your dress,” he’d spoken his thoughts out loud, not exactly addressing her with his commentary. It was definitely rude and not like Auradon custom to appraise someone like this but the faerie prince was very surprised by the person before him.

“Please forgive my rude manners. It is a poor habit I learned from my mother, or so my father says. She stared at him rather funnily when they first met. She hadn’t realized she was faerie herself, you see. Imagine one’s surprise at being the only tiny person they knew their whole life and suddenly meeting a tiny man with wings. Very peculiar indeed,” he said with barely rosy cheeks and a lilting laugh. “I didn’t know it was quite possible for a faerie and a human to join together and create a part magical being. Though I suppose that if gods of Olympus can have demichildren with mortals then so can we. But, my, isn’t it fascinating. You are a very rare creature, mademoiselle.” He laughed easily, shaking his head.

“I promise I did not come here to question your lineage or appearance or anything. I like to make it my business to befriend the faeries that live within the Vale or Auradon, if they so choose to make a permanent residence of the latter, and as I understand it you are natural born of this kingdom, am I correct? If that’s the case then I feel it my duty to make sure to introduce myself and make myself at your disposal, as a good prince would do. Miss Dee, I am Sevastyan Petit, the crown prince of the faeries. And as your…Grandmother? Grandrelation?” He wasn’t quite sure if he knew the proper idea of her relation to the Fairy Godmother, though he was sure they were blood related.

“As the Fairy Godmother is a rather important member of our court, I felt that we should become better acquainted. I believe we may come to work closely together in the future. So in the spirit of this ‘social season’ and its many traditions, I wondered if you may be willing to take a turn in the ton with me? I‘m afraid I’m still quite new to this land and admittedly have a tendency to get lost in this great city. They sure did built it to be rather confusing. I think it’s best to get lost in good company, wouldn’t you agree?” @daphne-dee

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Daphne Dee did not get gentleman callers anymore.

She’d gotten a few here and there in her first season, petering out into two by the end of her second. She had rejected both. There had been none since. That was years ago. Thus she’d stopped preparing for them. She hadn’t retained a chaperone, hadn’t worried about waking up early to dress for the day, and certainly hadn’t walked around her lodgings in her finest day attire. She had settled into her spinsterhood, and had adjusted her life accordingly.

However, she did get the occasional visitor in the form of the young genie, Abraham Mariner. He was her very best friend, and she’d never felt the need to impress him. They had already seen each other at their worst, suffering due to magical failures or romantic rejection. There was therefore no need for her to change from her painting attire, her smock still tightly wrapped around her as she rushed over from where she had set up to work for the day.

Having received word that she had a visitor that day, she had assumed that it would be he waiting in the parlor. She entered the room with that certainty, immediately launching into a quick, “Abe, I don’t see why-” before she stopped short.

She had never seen this man before.

And what was it with strangers picking up spellbooks? What power did they hold over curious minds?!

“Oh, I-” she started then, not given time to apologize before her name was falling from the male’s lips as a question.

“Yes, I am Miss Daphne Dee. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister...?” she inquired, quickly moving to untie and shed the smock that her been covering her light blue day gown. She had not participated in the full ritual of a societally acceptable visit for quite some time, but she still knew what was proper and what was not, and thus far... neither party in the room were particularly successful. She due to her casual entrance and he as he circled her, studying her in a way that made her feel like quite the oddity.

Narrowing her eyes as she tried to place the male, she offered a short “no, I have no wings, and I must ask that you cease your assessment,” moments before he spoke up again, and the conversation only grew more peculiar.

Who was this man and why had he come to call on her? Was it simply to gawk at the quarter (at best) faerie? Given the clues that followed his apology, along with his ethereal good looks, it was clear he was likewise a faerie (though clearly not a distant one), but she found his words to be odd. She felt both complimented and alienated all at once, and she could not help but feel that she was missing something.

His proper introduction moments later filled in those blanks.

“Prince Sevastyan,” she curtsied reluctantly, unsure of if it was really necessary given her lack of experience with any member of the faerie court beyond the Fairy Godmother. Her instincts were screaming at her to treat him how she would anyone else, but his title suggested some amount of decorum was necessary. “Please excuse me for not knowing who you were, but... I am entirely unfamiliar with you or the Vale. I have only been made aware of enough to keep my magical education moving forward. You are correct, to my knowledge I was born and raised in Auradon, and am of a distant relation to the Fairy Godmother.”

The invitation he’d extended was just as big of a shock to her as his presence in general, but with only a moment’s mental deliberation in her mind (she did have to start her latest piece for the opera within the next day or so and had several hours of outlining in her immediate future), she found herself nodding in response to the proposition.

“I have never gotten lost here, but would be thankful for the walk. I believe that we have much to discuss, and I’ve been told I give a good tour.”

Gesturing towards the door she’d just recently come through, she hoped that he would take the cue and be the first to head out. She needed to see if she could conjure up a chaperone to walk 20 paces behind them, as per society’s recommendations. Surely there was a mouse somewhere...

[daphne-dee]

abraham-mariner​:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Your mother never lets you have any fun thoughts. Though I suppose your dedication to the Charming family is admirable. Many would consider that loyalty to be worth marrying for,” he smiled and kissed her hand before spinning her to the song. “You may toss anything you wish at me, dearest love of mine. Though a refreshing perspective would certainly be worthwhile. Especially if it can offer some insight into my current predicament.”

Nasir was someone he loved with his heart but the extent of which he would be willing to fight for that love was called into question so regularly it made it difficult to focus. Why must love be so hard?

“He simply avoids the conversation entirely. If given the opportunity to he will move as far away from it as he possibly can. Which includes moving away from me.” Abraham sighed, “Do you suppose that perhaps you and I are meant to fall tragically in love, or at least marry for the strength of our friendship and adopt a million kittens while we use magic beautifully and I watch you paint for hours at a time?”

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

“It might have been, but the few that made any sort of attempt were lackluster at best,” Daphne found herself reminding Abraham, the fact that on some level her remaining on the shelf had been her own doing as much as that of... every eligible bachelor in the kingdom an important one. “My options were man who thought painting was a frivolous pursuit or the most annoying man in the kingdom, and thus I remain unwed and unattached.”

But their conversation wasn’t about her, and she was more than happy to refocus back onto the predicament with Nasir. Frown settling into place on her features, Daph allowed herself to take in the new information in silence (or, as much silence as could be had during the middle of a dance with appropriate backing instrumentals). She wanted to be sure she was giving a sound assessment of things, and truthfully needed the time to work through her thoughts.

“I’m sure this is the case, but just to cover all of my bases, has he given any verbal indication of his affection for you?” she questioned after she realized that she didn’t have all of the necessary pieces to complete the puzzle. “Perhaps he fears commitment. It wouldn’t be an uncommon phobia in the ‘ton.”

With an apologetic smile, the girl stepped perhaps one step closer than society would have preferred in a dance such as theirs to offer a reassuring pat to Abe’s shoulder, the universal symbol for ‘there, there’ meant to make the genie feel better.

“If we were meant to fall in love, it likely would have already occurred. Not to mention the fact that a union between the two of us might be frowned upon. Entirely too much magic under one roof - we would be unstoppable. But I will say you present the best, and only, offer that I have received. I am, of course, happy to offer such a life to you as a visitor in my eventual spinster home. I believe, however, that you will marry for love.”

[zoey-brooks]

[daphne-dee]

DEE FAMILY AESTHETICS #1/-

“the fairy godmother wasn’t exactly looking for a child, but when it was brought to her attention that poor daphne, at just two years old, had nowhere else to go after a terrible carriage accident, the older woman simply couldn’t say no.”

[daphne-dee]

discnchant​:

It was late, the sky already a pitch black. The ballroom, once bright and brimming with lively chatter and music, had gone quiet and bare. Only servants went about, cleaning up after the extravagant party. The dining room was swept spotless, almost as if no one had been there just a handful of hours ago, and the large room where a small orchestra and singer entertained was completely emptied out; the musicians having picked up their instruments hours ago and the chairs having been ushered away. The lights were off, not a soul to be seen. Everyone had retired to their designated rooms for the night, likely fast asleep and dreaming of the opulence and splendor had that night. But in the common room just down the hall, embers still smoldered a deep red and orange, a low fire giving warmth and some light to the room.

It had been (seemingly) empty, which is what drew Santos in. He had been anxious surrounded by so many strangers. Not that he wasn’t personable — he could be, when he wanted to. He just didn’t enjoy the evening and what it had to offer the way they all seemed to. So that’s why he spent most of it brooding in corners, or close behind Catalina, keeping company mostly with a glass of wine and the shadows. Not many approached him, though he didn’t blame them, what with that purple bruise on his brow. He looked nothing like a gentleman, in all black with a ruffled necktie that was haphazardly tied, a couple days old stubble peppering his jaw line and that scowl that seemed permanently etched onto his face. He certainly wasn’t the first choice for anyone for a dance partner, not when he looked like he could squash you under his ill tempered glare.

He had barely been in Auradon a week and he was already itching to leave — be it back to the Shadow Realm or to somewhere else. He’d heard rumor of a pub and inn outside of Old Corona which catered to the likes of ruffians and scoundrels. It sounded like a far better place to be than there, in the damned Queen’s immaculate country home among the fops and naive women. Oh how he wished to be free to explore beyond the city’s limits, unchaperoned. He likewise had already caused a bit of trouble, finding himself in a fight or two the couple times he managed to escape Mr. Cogsworth’s watchful gaze. He’d been chastised for it, but he felt the required attendance of that evening’s affairs was punishment enough for him to endeavor to not get in any more trouble. For now, anyway.

With all his desire to be away from the pretentious festivities, Santos found himself fond of the dark and quiet in that room after all had retired. He could finally breathe, stretch his legs out as he lounged effortlessly back into an armchair close to the dying fire. His curiosity lead him to dig through the desks, seeking some sort of entertainment or something to occupy his wild frenzied mind. Something to keep him from seeking trouble elsewhere. He’d found a pipe and tobacco, some matches, and then he found a book with a gold foil filagree on the spine and cover, a title in a language he didn’t know. Interesting enough to catch his eye. So he’d settled in, taking puffs of smoke from the pipe while idly flipping through the book, finally at peace in that strange world he’d been forced to participate in.

He thought he’d be alone to enjoy the quiet and darkness. It had only been a few minutes that he’d strolled in, but as he sat there he became aware of another sound in the room; another set of breaths that didn’t quite time with his. Pausing in his reading, Santos sat upright and looked over his shoulder only to realize there was someone else on the far side of the large common room. Had they not noticed him come in? Or had he not heard them sneak their way in? In the dark he couldn’t quite make out who they were, but he could see in the faintest moonlight as a pair of eyes turned towards him. Caught staring through the shadows, he turned away a little embarrassed. But then he smoothed his expression and took a puff from the pipe. “You know... I think they set a curfew for everyone to be in their rooms by now,” he said just loud enough for the other person to hear. In the distance he could hear the clatter and hushed talk of servants finishing their rounds. “I’m guessing you couldn’t sleep either?”

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

It was late, and Daphne was exhausted, but there was something just out of her reach that had been keeping her up.

The ball that evening had, by all accounts that she had heard, been a smashing success. It seemed to have served its purpose, with no one so much as even getting into a minor skirmish, and it appeared that everyone had headed off to bed relatively pleased with themselves.

And Daphne’s own night had been fine. She’d spent most of it cheering on her friends and offering assistance, observing official matches and mentally working through some combinations of individuals she knew who could suit each other. In total she had spent maybe fifteen minutes on commiseration for herself, but Abe and their troubles had snapped her out of it.

So it was unlikely that it was something about that evening’s events that was plaguing her current every waking moment.

Except she’d felt on the brink of discovery when her mind had turned to thoughts of Abe...

Wait.

Sitting straight up in the bed she’d been assigned to for the evening (her usual when she visited), Daphne was immediately brought back to earlier that day. She had arrived early and had decided to take some time for herself in a common room, bringing out one of her spellbooks to study some particularly complex magic that she had yet to master. She had been fetched by her mother for an audience with the King and Queen unexpectedly, and hadn’t had time to stash the book back in her room.

Instead she had left it... buried in the room’s desk. In a building current full of the children of villains of Auradon’s past.

Wasting not a second, Daphne threw back the covers that she had buried herself beneath, slipping on a dressing robe and her flats as she rushed towards where the knew the book to be.

That she entered the room only to immediately spot someone already there, reading the very book that she’d been determined to retrieve, only caused her further alarm. Especially given that the male looked a little worse for wear and his identity was unknown to her.

Oh no.

Holding her breath, she made sure to stand incredibly still and hidden in the shadows as she observed, looking for any indication that the male could actually read the item that was in his hands. He appeared to just be flipping through it with no real sense at to what it was, which was undeniably the most preferable outcome. But still she remained nervous.

And for good reason, as her hiding spot was soon revealed. Taking a few steps forward, Daphne crossed her arms as she moved, the impropriety of her attire not lost on her. But there were more important things to her in that moment, like playing nice and retrieving her property.

“Then we are both in violation, it would seem,” she pointed out, letting the statement hang in the air for a moment before she offered a slight nod to answer his next question.

“I left my book.”

[daphne-dee]

While Daphne may not have been thrilled about her own prospects that evening, she couldn’t have been more excited for her dear friend Drusilla Prince-White.

She had just known that there was something special about her, and it was reassuring to have confirmation that others saw it too. In her humble opinion, there had been no one more deserving of the honor of being the diamond of the season, and Daphne had been looking forward to the girl’s debut for years in anticipation of this very evening.

Dru looked stunning, suitors had been staring (at Dru, not her), and Daph was already looking ahead to the girl’s inevitable wedding, provided that one of the suitors proved to be good enough for the most kindhearted of them all.

So overall a decent night. There was just one thing that still needed to be done.

An actual greeting of the girl she’d been happily watching over almost all evening.

“Good evening, diamond,” she started with a grin, swooping in when she’d looked up to find that Drusilla was alone. “I do hope that you’ve been having a lovely evening.”

@talesnbone​

[daphne-dee]

abraham-mariner​:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He lead her out towards the dance floor, a smile on his lips, “Of course it is. We run in the business of wishes and magic. You know, my only wish would be to see you happy. And to watch Lord Henry fall down the stairs. Both I think would be rather magical.”

Abraham knew his friend was having difficulties of her own, which is why he hadn’t immediately jumped into the reason for his poor attitude, but once she asked it was easy to let the flood gates open.

“Well you know of my…complex relationship with Nasir do you not?” he spoke with a hushed tone. “Where we spend evenings together in a way some feel is only becoming of a man and a lady married together. At least that’s what I heard about the Charmings. The gossip I could tell you there. But I’m not talking about the mess of a family tree that’s happened there. Nasir and I recently got into an argument and then another tonight over our arrangement. You see I was interested in taking things a step further and making our debut as a couple this evening and he was so thoroughly against the idea I swear for a moment he contemplated throwing himself out of the nearest window.”

Sighing, he began to twirl her around to her favorite song. It didn’t seem fair that his life was not so much as he envisioned. Were they both not selflessly good in their wish granting for them to deserve happiness? 

“I fear I’ve made a fool of myself and that I no doubt will be the talk of the town very soon. I’d hardly mind but I can already here my father laughing at me.”

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

“Then I’m pleased to inform you that you can accomplish both in one fell swoop. Watching him fall down the stairs would also make me happy. But that must remain a secret between you and I, as my mother would never let me speak of a Charming so.”

It was a sentiment that Daphne had so rarely expressed, specifically because she had been instructed to look out for the Charmings from almost the very moment of their meeting... but Henry’s general attitude made it so difficult to want to do. Doubtful that he would ever actually call upon her for help, the question of whether she would help if presented with the opportunity had plagued her for some years by that point.

Stepping into place for their dance, Daphne was happy to just let her mind wander as the music played, her brain not needing to focus on the steps after having perfected them seasons ago. No, instead she was tossing around Abe’s words, his ‘complex relationship’ something she had been aware of but the newest twist something she had not.

“Abe, may I offer you some perspective?” she soon questioned, having let the dance progress enough. Clarity had been reached with each crescendo of the music.

“There are far bigger things occurring at present that could be the talk of the Ton. With those from the Shadow Realm making their debuts along our new society darlings this evening, it is almost certain that some form of scandal will abound. You are no fool. However, I find that I need more information to be able to offer my understanding of the full picture. Did Nasir give you a reason as to why he turned you down? If he is not ready, then he is not ready.”

[daphne-dee]

abraham-mariner​:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was nothing Abraham loathed more in this world than the treatment that Daphne had received. She was marvelous and magical (literally), so then why did others not see the beauty he knew was in there for himself. It was incredibly rude of them if he said so himself. And he very well might if he were to drink another sip.

“Love of mine, diamond of my eyes, fairy of my heart, I know I don’t have to. But I am asking if you’d wish to? You deserve to enjoy yourself this evening and think of how much fun it will be to gossip while we twirl in circles and make complete fools of ourselves?”

He was unsure how willing he was to partake in the social season after what had occurred between himself and Nasir and he knew the difficulties that Daphne was going through. People were absolute fools. All of them. Unless you were magic you were an idiot, apparently, and even then none were safe from his wrathful gaze tonight.

“Or we can go about causing magical mischief. Hm? What do you say, Miss Daphne Dee? Which shall it be? I’m a wish granting man tonight.” He gave her a bright and hopeful smile.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

“I accept what you are offering,” Daphne agreed, not finding herself able to put up much of a fight in response to such a nice offer. She and Abraham had been friends for so long, it felt like they’d known each other all their lives. Bonded together when they began their magic training in earnest, they had grown to be a great source of support for one another over the years.

It was entirely unsurprising, therefore, that they were offering support to her then.

If only she could stop having a pity party for herself.

“But we should refrain from making fools of ourselves, if we can avoid it. I accept the title of spinster graciously, but if odd is added to the front then life grows a little more difficult. I do not need to be the eccentric spinster artist, locked away in her lodgings as she emerges only for the opening nights of the operas she designs for. I know I’d make a fantastic elusive figure, but I do enjoy being a member of society.”

And then she was offering her hand, the familiar chords of an old society favorite indicating the beginning of the quadrille. And she couldn’t have appreciated Abe’s timing more. It was a dance she’d always been so fond of.

“You’re a wish granting man every night, Abe. It’s what we do. You will, of course, have to inform me of your reasons for wanting to cause some mayhem on the one night where we’re all likely supposed to be on our best behavior, but I’ll allow you to hold on that until after the dance.”

[daphne-dee]

abraham-mariner​:

Abraham was in a foul mood this evening. He’d had no fun at all and, well, he was determined to hide himself from anyone the best he could. Especially after what had happened with Nasir earlier on in the evening. No, instead he would stay hidden away and later, in the dead of night, throw a temper tantrum of cosmic power.

Not that his father would really care if he did it no in the midst of society. His old man was all about expression and freedom because, well, he had never had it before Aladdin had helped him with that.

Slightly drunker than he had planned to be this evening, Abraham noticed Daphne standing alone and twirled his way towards her. “My dearest magical companion, might I have this dance?”

@daphne-dee

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✳ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Daph had been sitting on the sidelines all evening, and the longer she’d gone without a dance partner, the more melancholy she became.

She had been out in society for many seasons at that point, and had enjoyed her fair share of soirees. Never the diamond of the season, she’d at least been branded as interesting due to her magical abilities. She had therefore never truly wanted for amusement before... until the latter part of the previous year’s season. From that point on she knew she was bound to have a total miss at one point, the shine of her debut having long faded. But she’d been hoping that she wouldn’t have such an obvious kickoff to her first season on the shelf.

Daphne had been optimistic when she’d received the invitation for that evening’s festivities, nervous yet intrigued by the presence of those from the Shadow Realm. She didn’t trust the new additions to society yet, but she’d resolved to keep a somewhat open mind. But observing the dance floor as the night wore on, one thing had become absolutely clear to the girl - nothing had really changed, had it? Auradonians had stuck with Auradonians, Shadowborn with Shadowborn. And she with no one. Minus an occasional visit with a friend.

Managing a smile for her clearly intoxicated friend, Daph wasn’t sure if she was projecting her feelings onto them or simply picking up on something unsaid, but with a shrug she answered their question by not answering it.

“You don’t have to.”

[thequotejournals]

I am so afraid of disappointing the people I love, I often forget that I am someone I love too. And I need kindness just as much as I believe the people I love do.

Nikita Gill (via wordsnquotes)

[aarontaylorjohnson]

THE NOTEBOOK (2006) dir. Nick Cassavetes